Tag: coffee shop

When I first saw a picture of the Tokyo Tea Room in a book about old Okayama coffee shops, I knew I would eventually find my way there. This very unique shop is located on Akura Dori not too far from the amazing Fa Niente restaurant and I am pretty sure I walked in front of it many times and never stopped because of the UCC coffee sign. Ueshima Coffee company produces some good coffee, but it’s never my first choice. Something else took me here, just keep up reading…

I’ve been buying bread at boulangerie Mugi pretty much since they opened, but I had never ventured on the second floor of this beautifully renovated building in the heart of the Bikan area in Kurashiki City.

Café Un deux comme chez vous opens only 12 days a month and I still don’t understand why after going there twice in the same weekend. If you don’t speak French, Un deux comme chez vous means “One Two Like your Home” and the place is indeed very homey. The name might be as weird as the opening hours but after eating their cake, I could not care less.

When I decided to find Orizuru coffee with the help of my friend Brian, I was not too sure where to start. The owner of Blue Mountain Coffee Shop in Kasaoka had highly recommended me Orizuru, but he had simply told me it was near the big department store in front of Okayama station. Luckily, we spotted the shop right after lunch and it’s not the easiest place to find.

I have to thank the owner of Tsuji coffee in Kasaoka for sending me to Blue Mountain Coffee Shop. This coffee paradise is so well hidden in the depth of Kasaoka that I would have probably never stumbled upon it without his precious help.

When my wife suggested Nene Goose, I googled it and realized that I have driven about 10 times in front of Nene Goose Cafe without ever noticing it, I guess I was busy looking over at Lake Kojima and I just didn’t pay any attention.

Kasaoka is the place your drive through between Fukuyama and Kurashiki, but since I work there once a week, I decided to explore a little.

The city is split in two by route 2 and the rail road track and it has a nice access to the Inland Sea. I went for a walk in the old inland area one more time because I get a kick out of these old commercial streets. The shotengai in Kasaoka is really old, it could easily be the set of a pre-war movie.

I often have the impression that I am walking blind in Japan since I can swear that I have walked in front of 1518 Coffee Shop in Okayama City a couple of times without ever noticing it. Well… my wife apparently does not share my blindness and easily spotted 1518.